pair your thinking against a knowledgeable source
Business is tough on the best day for shareholders, founders and especially entrepreneurs. I find that it is essential to acknowledge those that have been consistent in my 25yrs on the job. ISO standards are a cliché but a good one, they have the gold with-in them to save many businesses.
Back in the day, when we heard the acronym ISO, we immediately linked the notation with manufacturing standards and zoned out. Our logic was, if we did not work in a factory, why make our lives difficult.
Today I understand the error of my ways. Not only have ISO standards evolved to multiple sectors, they have also improved their approach by capturing the nuances of human behaviours that need to be prepared for….’just in case’. In my opinion, ISO standards are the unsung heroes of quality control and product improvement.
For those of you who are solo artists and struggle to find like-minds, the ISO team is a great sounding board. Challenging and investigating business operations, the ISO standards system is ‘old school’, they provide the science behind traceable source data combined with business insights building a foundation for innovation within the business.
If you have ever had the challenge of implementing a new concept within your business, you understand the frustration of not knowing what will happen when you re-engineer the steps to market. Often innovation is stifled by this very element, good ideas with unknown impact result in less ideas being brought to market. For senior executives, the standards allow you to pair your thinking against a knowledgeable source, as you evaluate the processes you will be able to quickly identify the gaps.
Knowledge of how the standards are designed and applied means that you can use the insight in every situation. If you are striving to achieve the standard for the first time, do not delegate the task, work with your team as lead. Secure within yourself working insights of the standards, there-in lies the gold of ISO.
Sales and marketing departments often believe that they are science exempt, however using the ISO framework allows senior executives to ask the right questions and reposition for opportunities in the market. When applied through an innovation lens, the standards provide innovation support structures.
The standards can save your business and most importantly they are applicable for all business sizes. Small businesses especially, do not have the time to lose when looking for operational guidelines, ISO is a friend that provides both credibility and helps bring direction to the business.
